Bail bonds companies can help get you out of jail when you can't afford to pay the entire bail amount set by the court. Although the process of getting your bail paid through a bondsman is pretty straightforward, there are times when the company may opt not to approve your request. Here are two reasons why this may occur and what you can do to overcome the issue.

You're Not Old Enough

Contracts with people under 18 cannot be legally enforced. Therefore, if you're a juvenile who's trying to get out of jail, the bail bond company typically won't agree to post bail for you unless there is a parent, a guardian, or other adult willing to cosign the bond agreement.

It's important to note that in some states, such as Mississippi, the age of majority is 21. Eighteen-year-olds may be able to enter contracts for some things (e.g. personal property) but may be treated like a minor when contracting for other things such as a bail bond. Bond companies in these states may require you to be 21 before they will agree to post your bail.

The only option available if you're not the minimum required age is to find someone to cosign the loan for you. It doesn't necessarily have to be a parent or guardian. As long as the person is the legal age and accepts responsibility for the contract, the bail bond company will typically approve the transaction.

You Previously Failed to Show Up for Court or Defaulted on a Bond

When bail bondsman post your bond, they are trusting that you will show up for your court appointments as scheduled. When you fail to show as required, the court will typically forfeit your bail, causing the bond company to lose the money it paid on your behalf. If you have previous instances where you failed to show, the bail bondsman may decide not to take the risk that you'll no show again and may decline to take your case.

Along those same lines, if you've defaulted on a previous bond with that company or a different one, the bondsman may choose not to work with you to avoid losing money.

There are a couple of things you can do in these situations. If the problem is you failed to show for previous appointments, call around to different bail bond companies to see if someone else may be willing to post bond for you. Some companies have a high risk tolerance and may be willing to give you a second chance.

If you defaulted on a previous bond, then paying off that bond may help your case. Another option is to give the bondsman collateral to secure the bond, such as a home or piece of valuable jewelry. This may ease the company's concern about getting its money as it can simply take possession of the collateral and sell it to recoup its losses.

For more information, contact Brad's Bail Bonds or a similar company.